New Philosophical Furnaces

9

...dealing with manual operations. One may see the shape of the Receivers in the drawing. Regarding their size, know that the larger they are, the better; for then you have need of fewer [vessels], whereas you would need many more if they were smaller. The upper opening should be wider than the lower one, so that another receiving vessel can always be joined to it by its lower opening; and indeed, the lower opening should have a diameter of three broad fingers' width, or thereabouts, taking into account, of course, the furnace, the diameter of which is one span original: "spithamæ"; the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended, roughly 9 inches..

For a larger furnace requires larger holes as well as larger openings for the receivers, so that a sufficient and proper proportion of air may be supplied to the fire. Or, if the diameter of the furnace is more than one span, it must also have two or three pipes original: "fistulas" (which, considered together, should have a width corresponding to the third part of the width of the furnace; for such a width and such an amount of air is required if the fire is to perform its office freely), to which receiving vessels of the said proportion must be applied so that the fire is not stifled.

The attached figure will show the connection of the receivers, as well as their attachment to the furnace. And indeed, the first receiving vessel rests upon a tripod, or a small stool perforated in the middle, so that the neck of the first receiver can pass through; to this is attached a piped basin original: "scutella fistulata"; a collection dish with a spout used to draw off the condensed liquid. for receiving the distilled spirits. To the first receiver, the second is then joined, and to this the third, and so on in sequence (namely near a wall or some ladder), as many as [are needed].